Curtain-supporting rod.



PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907.

LE ROY G LAZEAR.

OURTAIN SUPPORTING ROD.

APPLIGA'IION FILED OUT. 27.1906.

2 SHEETS-SKIRT 1.

INVENTOR PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907.

LE BOY G LAZEAR. CURTAIN SUPPORTING ROD.

APPLIOAtI'IOH FILED 0013.27. 1906.

2 SHEETS BHEBT 2.

W1 TNESSES UNITED sTArg s PATENT OFFICE.

v Specification of Letters'IBatentI CURTAIN- ISIUPPORTING Ron.

Patented march 19.1907.

1 K :Applioation 616s October 27,1906. Serla1No.340, 903.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,LE RoY C. LAZEAR, a citizen of theUnited States, and a-resident of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have'invented certain Improvements in Curtain-Supporting Rods, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that classof devices which are designed for the support ofcurtains, portieres, and the like at'windows, doorways, &c.; and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this character of a simple and com paratively inexpensive nature and of a light, strong, and durable construction, whichshall be adjustable as to length to permit of convenient use indifferent situations, and which shall be adapted for use for the effective support of curtains, portieres and the like without liability of sagging at its central part.

The invention consists in certain novel principles and'features of the construction and combinations andarrangements of the several parts of the improved curtain-supporting rod whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, cheaper, and otherwise better adapted and more convenient for use, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which one set of the locking devices for holding the members in sliding relation. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but taken in the plane'indicated by the line b b in Fig. 2, for illustrating the other set of locking devices for holdlng vthe members of the improved curtain-rod in relation. Fig. 6 is a 'fragmentary perspective view showing one end portion of the 1mproved curtain-rod for illustration of improved means comprised in my invention for hol 'ng the outer part,of the curtain to' Fig. 4 is. a transverse my improved curtain-rod wherein an inter-' mediate or extension member is provided having adjustable connection with the end members of the rod. vation of said intermediate or extension member detached and enlarged. Fig. 11 is a sectional view somewhat similar to Figs 4 and 5, but illustrating a securing means comprised in my invention and adaptedfor apprevent it from slipping endwise along the 7 Fig. 10.is a broken eleplication tothe central part of the curtain- I rod for-preventing movement of themeeting edges of the curtains away from each other.

Fig, 12 is a fragmentary view of the end por-.

tion of the improved curtain-rod and showmg a modified form ofthe means for preventing the outer edge of the curtain from slipping endwise upon the rod. Fig. 13 is a 'fragmentary view of the end portion of the rod, showing a modified formation of the supporting means for holding the rod upon a window-frame or other support. 1 Fig. 14 is a perspective view similar to F igs. 1 and.9 and showing a modified form of the curtain rod embodying my improvements; and Fig. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one end portion of one of the members of this modified form o'fcurtain-rod for illus-. tration of the locking means carried thereby.

.Referring first to Figs! to 8, it will be seen that the improved curtain-supporting rod comprises two parts or members 1 and 2, similarly formed from elongated pieces or strips of metal of flattened formation in cross-section and having straight body portions 3 3 lapped u on and adapted to he slid endwise along eac other in order to permit longitudinal adjustment of the curtain-rod for accommodating the device for use at windows or other openings of different widths.

The opposite ends of the respectiveparts or.

members 1 and 2 are also rovided With-similar rearwardly curved or directed port ons 4 4, .the extremities of which are bent or curved to produce vertically-extended tubular eyes IIO or sockets 5, wherein are adapted to be received, as shown in Fig. 7,v the vertical portions of supporting screws orpins 6, adapted I to be set in the woodwork m of the window or other frame in convenient position for sulp porting the curtain-rod extended across t window or other opening. By this curved or bent construction of the ends of the members 7 1 and 2 it will be seen that the device is made capable of ready and convenient apphcation andfremoval to and from position for use, the

' eyes or sockets 5 5 being adapted to be read i ly slip ed in and out of engagement with the vertica portions of the supportin -screws 6 6, and it will also be evident that t e curved formation of,the end portions 4 of the mem v bers serves to cause the straight body portions 3 3 of the members to stand out infront of and beyond the plane of the window or other casing, so that the curtain or drapery supported by the improved rod shall be out when set in the woodwork the supporting screw or pin has a vertically-extended U- shaped portion in close'proximity to the supporting-surface an, and the outermost mem ber .7 of said U-shaped portion isdesigned to receive the tubular eye or socket 5 at the end of the curtain-rod to give effective support thereto. In this way accidental turning of 3 mitted to fall from the supporting-screw in the woodwork is entirely prevented, and since it is evident that in certain cases the bent ends 4 4 of the members land 2 may be omitted and the eyes or sockets produced directly upon the ends of the body portions 3, as shown in Fig. 8, a material advantage is attained, such straight form of curtain-rod being especially liable tobe moved endwi'se in such a manner as to turn or swing the screws fifrom proper vertical position, whereby the rod might be perthe screws. By preference the outer members 7 of the supporting screws or pins 6, wherewith the eyes 5 of the curtain-rod have supporting engagement, are

" made of greater length than. the rearmost members 7 thereof, and their lengths are such that their upper end portions are extend above the sockets 5 ,as clearlyshow'n in Figs. 7 and8', and said extended upper end portions'of suchouter members 7 are adapted to receive detachable heads or enlargements 22 which may be given any desired form and ornamentation, so that a highly ornate apmental heads 22.

adapted to pearance may be imparted-to the ends of the improved r0 By preference such heads or enlargements, as, shown in Figs; 6 and 7, will have their lower parts formedinto tubular shanks-or eyes 23, capable of detachable engagement with said projecting upper ends of the outer members ,7 of screws 6, and said shanks 23 will be provided with integral hooks or pointed projections 2 4,adapted for engagement in the texture of the curtain or drapery 7 5 supported upon the improved rod in such a way as to prevent the outer edge portions thereof from slipping inwardly along the rod away from the supporting-screws. Where thecurved formation of the ends of the cu'r- 8o tain-rod are employed, the curtains are particularly liable to slip in this way off of said curved end portions, and this is altogether avoided by providing the retaining means comprising the hooks 24 upon the orna- S aid retaining means when combined with said heads or enlarge ments22, as shown in Figs. Hand 7, also serves to prevent accidental displacement of the heads or enlargements from the projectmg portions of the supporting-screws. g

n Fig. 12 I have shown'a modified formation of-th'e retaining means for preventin slipping of the curtainalong the improve rod. away from the supporting-screws, such 5' modified formation comprising notches produced in the upper edge portion of the flattened curtain member, as shown at 27, Whereby a tooth-like portion is afforded for engage ment in the texture-of the curtain'or'drapery roe to prevent such undesirable movement along ,the -curtainrod. Where the curtain or drapery is mounted on rings in a well-known way, one of such rings at the outer edge'of the curtainor drapery maybe engaged with 165 the iietainihg means to accomplish the desired resu t.

In" the use of the device the engagement v of the eyes or sockets 5 5 at opposite ends of the curtain-rod with .the supporting hooks no or pins eliectively holds the 'members'from, 4 longitudinal; movement along each other, whereby it will be understood thatsaid members are maintained in proper longitudinal adjustment while the curtain-rod is in use. Since the engagement of the reciprocal guiding means of the members must be sufliciently loose to permit ready adjustment.

theseof, it is evident that'the provision of meanslfor holding the members in adjusted In relation is of considerable importance in Practice. f

The body portions 3 3 of the members of the improved rod are lapped fiush upon and are adapted for sliding movement endwise 1 25 along one another for permitting longitudinal adjustment of therodto accommodate windows or other openings of different widths, and said body portions are also provided with corresponding central and longitudmally extended corrugations 10' 10, guide-faces of said member 2 being adjacent which are caused to pro ect along the-front l to the clip" 15 thereof and adapted for the faces of the members to produce a finish and passage of the bent ends 16 160i the clip 14 which are adapted by engagement one with' l. on the member .1. Inthis way it will be 5 1n the other to produce a guide extended seen that when the members are slid end- 70 lengthwise of the body portions of the ineml wise upon one anotherto their fullest extent, bers to facilitate the, ad ustment of the memso that the clips 14 and 15 contact upon one berslengthwise one upon the other. Said i another, as shown in Fig. 3, the notches-of corrugations also add materially to therigidg each member will register with the inturned 1o ity and strength of the rod and are extended, 1 extremities of the clip on the other member, '7 5 as shown at 11,along the rearwardly-curved so that said extremities of the clips maybe end. ort1ons44'df the members,'so as to ma'-* drawn through said notches for disengageteria ly strengthen and stiffen the same. ment of the members; but when saidmem- By means ofthecentral corrugations 10 bersare slid upon. each other from said ex 1 10 each member of theimproved curtain-Ltreme position the notches Wlll bewith- 80 rod is provided with parallel spaced guidedrawn-from registry with said inturned ends surfaces 12 12 along l its upperand lower '1 of the clips, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the edges, and at its end opposite to the rearmembers willthereby be securely locked in wardly-curved part 4 each member of the relation.

25 rod carries a. locking device adapted for *In connection with the improved curtain 85 detachable slidingengagement with such rod constructed as abovedescribed I prefer guide-surfaces 12 12 of the other 'member, to provide means detachably heldthereon the said locking devices for the respective l for engagement with the meeting edges of -meinber s--1- and 2 comprising metal cli'ps14 l, the curtains where a pair of curtains are 25 and 15, which may, if desired, be made inl supported upon the one rod or with the cen o tegral with the members-whereonthey are l ter of'the curtain or drapery in other'c'ases .carried although it is usually desirable for in such manner as-to" prevent s'eparation'of economic reasons to form said clips sepathe meeting edges of the curtains at the rod rately and to attach them to the respective when the curtains are drawn apart or dismembers in any preferred way. placement of the central part of the curtain As herein shown, the clip 14 is formed ofa l or, drapery from any cause, and-this means,

, strip of metal the central portion of which as shown in Fig. ,1, comprises a clip 37,

. is fixedly held upon the outer surface of the l formed from metal in any desired or ornamember 1 and the ends of which are rearmental contour with its lower part provided 3 5 wardly bent across the upper and lower with forwardl -bent parts 35 and 36, spaced r'oc margins or edges of the lapped body porapart one above the other and adapted to be tions of the members 1 and 2 and have their sprung over the lapped body portions of the extremities'16 carried overand bent towardl members. The clip 37 is provided with a each other upon the rear side ofthe guidinghook 38, adapted for engagement in the tex- 0 surfaces 12 12 at upper and lower edges of ture of the curtains or drapery in such a way 5 the member 2, while the clip 15 is formed as toeffectively prevent disarrangement of from a strip of metal the central portion of l'the central parts thereof. This clip may which is fixed upon the rear surface of the also be ornamented in such a way as to add member 2 and has its ends bent forward materially to the'appearance of the curtain.-

4 5 above and beneath-the edges of the'body porrod. 2 V a tions of members 2 and'l, its extremities bel A modified formation of this last-described. ing bent toward each other for engagement 1 retaining meansis illustrated in the sectional uponthe forward sides of the guide-faces 12 12 view, Fig. 11, and comprises a metal clip of the membe 1, as shown at 1 7 17 on the in inverted-U shape, with pendent arms orc drawings. Bythis construction 'it will be \members 25. 25, s aced'apartto take in H5 seen that in the longitudinal adjustment of 1 front of and behind t e la ped body portions the rod the overturned end portions 16 and 1'? l of the members outside 0 the curtain, (indiof the clips 14 and 15 are'adapted to engage cated at y,-) with lower endportions pendand slide along the guide-faces 12 12 of the 1 ent belowthe'curtain-rod and provided with respective members in such a manner .as to teeth or projections 26 26 opposite and bent me securely hold the members in relation during toward each other in such a Way as togrip suchadjustment, and in order to permit of between'them the meeting edges of the curreadily detachin themembers from leachtains to prevent-said edges from being sepaother I provide tl d guide-faces 12, 12 of each 3 rated from each other. Such clips may also e member adjacent to "its clip with correspondi be employed in lieu of pins or the like for 125 ing notches, the notches 18 18 of the guidel draping or looping the curtains over the imfaces of the member 1 beingadjacent to the l proved rod, whereby 1t is made possible to clip 14 thereof and being adapted for the l readily hang the curtain after the rod has passage of the bent ends 17-17 of the clip 15 "been placed in position upon itssupportingllO ' 'o'n member 2 and the notches 19 19in the 'screws. 3

As above described, the improved curtainf 5- 'rod is desirable the device may be constructed'in a greater numberof parts or members, Such astructure I have shown in'Figs. 9 and 10, wherein members 1 and 2, similar to members 1 and 2 above described, are provided for use in connection with an .interme-' 'diate orv auxiliary extension member "21. I This extension member 21 consists of a strip I of flattened metal centrally corrugated and adapted to be lapped outside ofithe members 1 andZ as shown'at 3in Fig. 9,its end por-. tions being provided with clips 14 14, similar to thoseof the,member1"in; thepreceding' construction and 'having extremities 16, adapted for registry with. notches 19 19in the members 1 and 2 and also having notches 18 1 8,.adapted for registry with the inturn ed extremities'ofclips 15 on said members 1' and 2 and similar to the clip 15 upon the member 2,0 6 the preceding con-.

struction, whereby when the members are adjusted to an extreme position they may I be detached from each other and when other- .Wise adjusted are securely held in relation.

From the above description of' my im provements'it will be seentha-t the curtainrod constructed according ,tomy invention is of an extremely rigid, strong, and durable construction, whereby sagging of its central part is altogether avoided,- and it is rendered possible of use in extreme situations where other forms of tubular teleseo ic rods are altogethenunsUited, and it'wil ;be evident that the im roved rodis'also rendered especially desira ble-foruse by reason of theconvenience with which it. ma be adjusted and of the security with whic 1 the curtains or draperies are held in position thereon. devlce is also of an'extremely sim 1e and inexpensive construction-, andit will e obvious 1 out material departure from the principles and spirit of the invention, and for this rea: son I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the precise 'formandarrange- 5o ment of the several parts herein set forth in carrying'out my invention" in pr actice.' For Each member is also provided at the end of .its body portion opposite the rearwardly curved part 4 with a locking member com- I prising a'reduced neck portion 14*, which is' ent overat about a right angle and is passed ends of slots 10 have enlargements '18", at

bers 'againstsliding movement one upon'the The that it is capable of some modification wit/hf arallel with each other similar tothejguideaces 12 12 of the preceding constructions.

y W e v through the slotted opening 10, of the other member, its extremity having a head or enlargement 16, adapted forlo'cking engagementupon the guide-faces 12 12 of such o,ther';member in such a way as to securely 7c hold the members in relation, while permitting free longitudinal adjustment of one member lengthwise upon, theother; The

which. the heads 16* may be withdrawn upon 7 properadjustment of the members to per-; mit; the same to be readily detached. 7

Another-modified formation is shown-in -Fig.'13' and consists in a rod formed om flattened nietah-asshown at'30, with an end portion folded over at right angles, as'seen at 31,. to fit-flush upon thewo'odwork of the window-or other casing andprovided with a keyhole-slot' 32', adapted for detachable engagement with 'ascrew 33, set in the woodwork in'suqh a way as-to permit the curtainrod to bejr'eadily-I detached fro'm said screw" 'whenidesirable,'while aifordin a' strong and secure mountin for the end 0 the'rod.

Having thus escribed my invention, what I'claim, and-desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is I 1. A] curtain -"sup porting rod comprising members lapped for. sliding movement one upon'the other and havin reciprocal and en-; 5 gagedguidi nggmeans for hold'in them in re latlon while permitting suchs iding movement', the opposite ends of the respective" members, having rearwardlydirected por-o tions and'fasteningdeviees, adaptedfor loca- 1 0 ti on at opposite-sides of a window or the like and engageablewith said rearwardlydirectedportions of the respective -members and adapted, when so engaged, to hold said mem other. a 2. A curtain suppo'rti ng rod comprising,

members lapped for sliding movement one "upon thev other and having reciprocal and engage-d guiding means for" holding them in re- '11 lation while permitting such sliding move- 1ment',-said members being-formed from flat- "tenedmaterial and the opposite ends. of the respective members havin rected portions-integrally ormed from the flattened material of which said members are Lproduced and having at their rear' extremi: ties, curved portlons forming eyes or sockets I having vertically ext'ended apertures, and

fastening devices, adapted for locati on at op- 1 we posite" sides of afwindow .or the like and engageable with the vertically-extended aperturesof said eyes or sockets of, the. rearwardly-directed portions of the members and e adapted,.when so engaged, to hold 'the said'izg I members against sliding movement onefupomv,

theother, m

- A curtaln-rod '-compr1s1ng members lapped for extension sliding movement oneupon the other, one member having a 136 re'arwardly-ditherefrom to permit disengaging the mem' said first-named member and engage straight flattened ed I e p'ortion forming a 10ngitu nally-extende guide-surface andpro' vided with a notch, and the other member having a locking device engaged for slidin movement along said guide-surface an adapted to hold the members in relation, and also adapted, when in registry" with the notch in said guide-surface, to be detached bers.

4. A curtain-rod comprising members lapped ior'extension sliding movement one upon the other, one member having straight andparallel flattened parts extended along its opposite edges and'forniing guide-faces and provided with alined notches and the other member having a locking device comprising parts extended: across the ed es of the lateral uidefaces thereof for sliding engagement a ong the same and adapted, when over i registry with the alined notches in the flattened edge parts of the first-named member, to be passed through said alined notches to permit the members to be detached from -25 each other.

5. The combination of a curtain rod hav- 7 ing a terminal s0cket,' a supporting device I having a member enga edin and projecting a curtain-retaining 0 above said socket, and means held upon the projecting portion of said supporting device and having a hook for engagement with a curtain,

T111 testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, at Chicago, Illinois,'this 3 5 28th day of September, 1906, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, E ROY 'o. LAZEAR. Witnesses:

J. DJCAPLINGERQ W. F. MOORE. 

